Rainbow Living

Updated 13 March 2024

An assessment has been undertaken of a specialist service that is used by autistic people or people with a learning disability. Date of assessment 27 March to 18 April 2024. The assessment was prompted by concerns received about staff conduct and the failure to ensure staff completed an appropriate induction. This incident is subject to an ongoing review by CQC. As such, this assesssment did not examine the specific circumstances of the incident. However, the information shared with CQC indicated potential concerns about safeguarding processes and the induction of staff. This assessment examined those concerns. We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it. People led active lives. Staff supported people to take part in activities and pursue their interests. Staff worked with people to plan for when they experienced periods of distress. Staff learned from incidents. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. People received kind and compassionate care. Staff protected and respected people’s privacy and dignity; they understood and responded to people's individual needs. Staff understood how to protect people from poor care and abuse. There was an open and transparent culture with a clear focus on providing good care. People and those important to them were involved in planning their care. There was good communication and the active involvement of senior managers.

Updated 13 March 2024

We visited 3 supported living projects and engaged with 6 people. An Expert by Experience contacted people by phone and spoke with 4 people and 5 family members. The feedback we received was mostly positive and reflected a service focused on providing good standards of care. People and their families told us they were involved in needs assessments and their needs were being met. Risks involved in people’s care were managed well. No concerns were reported about discrimination or any unfair treatment. People felt confident to complain if they needed to. Most people told us they felt safe. There had been a recent incident between 2 people, and this had made them feel less safe; this was being managed appropriately. People were treated with dignity and respect and were supported to understand their rights and options. Staff had the skills to meet people's needs and responded positively when people communicated their needs, emotions or distress. People were supported to have choice and control over their own care and to make decisions about their care and treatment. People were supported to maintain relationships and networks that were important to them and had active lives in their local communities. We observed no concerns during our onsite visits. We observed very positive interactions between people and staff. The 3 properties we visited were modern and furnished to a high standard and personalised in the way people chose.